Gay owned and run accommodation, and lodgings, bed and breakfast hotel and inn for the independent gay and lesbian travel ler near Hersonissos, Crete, Greece
© 2010 Villa Ralfa All logos reproduced by permission. All pictures and text are copyright! Last updated 10/04/10
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Yes, this IS the page where we are putting everything else.....
Feeling limited by only being able to sightsee, swim, sleep, eat, drink, socialise? Crete offers many other ‘activitiies’ for the LGBT traveller and which some of the other Greek islands cannot just because of its size!
Photography is still a popular hobby with many, and as well as photographs just as a record of you stay there are many chances of taking ‘art’ photographs. With very photogenic scenery ranging from rugged to quite gentle, with small hill villages, and with the wildlife as well.
Artists and photographers alike will be surprised at times by the clarity of light when even during the winter months the absence of those dull dreary afternoons which characterise the short winter days of northern Europe makes photography a pleasure. During spring (and up until mid June at higher altitudes) the wild flowers which bloom in such profusion are useful subjects for both photographer and artist. Crete is also the home to several indigenous orchids.
The result of the heavy rainfall during the autumn and winter months, the entire island changes from the the red scorched earth seen by most visitors disappears below a carpet of green, and even the barren looking hills wear a mantle rarely seen during the summer.
For those interested in natural history as a whole, Crete supports a wide range of wildlife from the native beach marten, (which annoy the dog by using the top of our gate and surrounding walls as a regular trunk route), and kri-kri , through to those most majestic birds, the lammergeier.
Birdwatchers who visit during the migrating season will usually find birds of interest nearby and in the Aposelemis river valley can see a variety of lammergeier peculiar to this area. On occasions in the winter months these occasionally land on our balcony rails for short periods, but of course, never when we have a camera ready! In the garden at Villa Ralfa, apart from the ubiquitious sparrows it is possible to see tits and finches in various forms during the nesting season.
Butterflies and moths are also abundant, in season, including swallowtails
Feeling limited by only being able to sightsee, swim, sleep, eat, drink, socialise? Crete offers many other ‘activitiies’ for the LGBT traveller and which some of the other Greek islands cannot just because of its size!
Photography is still a popular hobby with many, and as well as photographs just as a record of you stay there are many chances of taking ‘art’ photographs. With very photogenic scenery ranging from rugged to quite gentle, with small hill villages, and with the wildlife as well.
Artists and photographers alike will be surprised at times by the clarity of light when even during the winter months the absence of those dull dreary afternoons which characterise the short winter days of northern Europe makes photography a pleasure. During spring (and up until mid June at higher altitudes) the wild flowers which bloom in such profusion are useful subjects for both photographer and artist. Crete is also the home to several indigenous orchids.
The result of the heavy rainfall during the autumn and winter months, the entire island changes from the the red scorched earth seen by most visitors disappears below a carpet of green, and even the barren looking hills wear a mantle rarely seen during the summer.
For those interested in natural history as a whole, Crete supports a wide range of wildlife from the native beach marten, (which annoy the dog by using the top of our gate and surrounding walls as a regular trunk route), and kri-
Birdwatchers who visit during the migrating season will usually find birds of interest nearby and in the Aposelemis river valley can see a variety of lammergeier peculiar to this area. On occasions in the winter months these occasionally land on our balcony rails for short periods, but of course, never when we have a camera ready! In the garden at Villa Ralfa, apart from the ubiquitious sparrows it is possible to see tits and finches in various forms during the nesting season.
Butterflies and moths are also abundant, in season, including swallowtails
Walking can be a rewarding pastime although we recommend this when the weather is cooler or to do it early in the morning during the summer months.
Apart from Samaria Gorge, which we have mentioned elsewhere there are other gorges to walk notably Embros and Prevelli ,on the south coast, and Kato Zakros to the east. These walks are not as long as the full Samaria Gorge walks, but nonetheless offer the walker plenty to look at.
Astronomers may also find the night sky of interest as in general levels of light pollution are quite low on Crete, (head for the beach or the hills is best), and unlike much of the UK, the full extent of The Milky Way is visible.
Apart from Samaria Gorge, which we have mentioned elsewhere there are other gorges to walk notably Embros and Prevelli ,on the south coast, and Kato Zakros to the east. These walks are not as long as the full Samaria Gorge walks, but nonetheless offer the walker plenty to look at.
Astronomers may also find the night sky of interest as in general levels of light pollution are quite low on Crete, (head for the beach or the hills is best), and unlike much of the UK, the full extent of The Milky Way is visible.
